Matt Galko Joins Davidson Racing Team; Looks to Win SK Light Modified Rookie of the Year Honors at Stafford Speedway
Stafford Springs, CT — A theme that has developed in Stafford Motor Speedway’s SK Light Modified division over the past few seasons has been the size of its rookie classes. The 2010 season is no exception with 10 rookie drivers signed up and Matt Galko, of Meriden, looks to race his way to the front of that rookie class this season. Galko has become the newest member of the Davidson Racing Family, and he will pilot the Davidson Company owned #20 SK Light car, taking over the driving duties from Mike Lane.
“With the opening we had for the driver, we were looking for a driver that was local to us,” said car owner Tim Rowe, who is based out of Meriden. “All of our drivers are from Stafford or the Stafford area, and Matt is from Meriden. Matt is a driver who I had seen in several articles in the local papers by winning races and I got in contact with him and his father and offered him the seat for the 2010 season.”
Galko comes to Stafford with 7 years of experience in the quarter midget ranks at Silver City Speedway and he spent last season in the 270 division at Whip City Speedway, where he finished third in points and took home Rookie of the Year honors. Galko is looking forward to getting back on asphalt after spending the 2009 season on dirt at Whip City.
“I’m really excited about coming to Stafford this year, I like racing on asphalt better than racing on dirt,” said Galko. “I’ve wanted to race at Stafford since I was a kid. My dad and I thought that the modifieds at Stafford were the coolest cars ever and now I’m going to get to drive one thanks to Tim [Rowe] and everyone at the Davidson Racing team. That was a huge break for me when Tim called us up and said that he had an opening for the driver’s seat.”
Although the 2010 season will be the first time that Galko has sat behind the wheel of a modified type car, he doesn’t lack for confidence and he has set some lofty goals for himself and the Davidson team.
“This will be the first time I’ve ever driven one of these cars, but every car I’ve ever driven has been an open wheel car, so I feel comfortable in an open wheel car,” said Galko. “I’ve won Rookie of the Year in every division I’ve ever been in, so we’d like to be able to win Rookie of the Year again this season. I’d also like to be able to get a win this season or at least a top-3 finish and experience what it’s like to be in a podium spot. We’d ultimately like to set the bar high for ourselves and race for the championship this season, but we’ll have to see how things go. I don’t want to make any bad moves on the track, but I also don’t want to be riding around in the back. I want to be competitive and running towards the front of the pack. I think if we can not wreck the car and if we can be consistent, a top-5 or top-3 finish in the points would be an excellent season for us this year. I have to thank Tim Rowe from The Davidson Company for putting me in the car, my father and my grandfather for working on the car with me, and all my Davidson teammates.”
Galko will be part of a robust Reliable Welding and Speed rookie class this year in the SK Light division. Galko joins Mark Trombetta, Brandon Godbout, Shayne Prucker, Mike Parolo, Zack Aszklar, Dylan Liseo, Bill Lucchesi, Jr., Victoria Bergenty, and Joey Cipriano.
The first SK Light Modified feature of the 2010 season will be on Saturday, April 24th as part of the 39th Annual Tech-Net Spring Sizzler Weekend. Tickets for 39th Annual Tech-Net Spring Sizzler Weekend are now on sale at the Stafford Motor Speedway box office. Tickets are priced at $35.00 for adult general admission tickets, $5.00 for children ages 6-14, $38.00 for reserved seats, and free for children ages 5 & under. Tickets are good for admission to the Saturday April 24, and Sunday, April 25 portions of the Tech-Net Spring Sizzler, with the Friday, April 23 practice session open to the public free of charge.
For more information, contact the Stafford Motor Speedway track office at 860-684-2783 or visit us on the web at www.staffordspeedway.com.
Sources: Scott Running/Stafford Motor Speedway PR